4. Frank T.J. Mackey in Magnolia

What if you took everything that’s powered Tom Cruise to the top of the A-list and made it evil? Mackey, an oily self-help lecturer, has all the Cruise hallmarks — charisma, confidence, noteworthy hair — but uses them to make the world a worse place. If Cruise’s small role had just been the “Respect the cock” speech this would still be one of the highlights of his career, but the later scenes as that spotless exterior starts to crack and dull are perhaps the finest single moments of acting he’s given.